Aliyah flights from Ethiopia, Ukraine land in Israel despite coronavirus
Ben-Gurion Airport was shut on Jan. 25 to all commercial flights due to the government’s concerns over the entry of COVID-19 variants into the country.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFNew immigrants arrive at Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport on Purim, February 26, 2021(photo credit: ELLA SHILUV/GPO)
Some 380 new immigrants, most from Ethiopia, flew into Ben-Gurion Airport on Friday morning. According to the Jewish Agency, 286 were from Ethiopia, 82 from Ukraine and 12 came from South Africa.The flights were welcomed despite Ben-Gurion Airport being shut down because of coronavirus but an exception was made for the flights ferrying the immigrants with the assistance of Aliyah and Integration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, and in cooperation with the Jewish Agency and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.The immigrants all entered coronavirus quarantine at a designated compound of the Aliyah and Integration Ministry while other passengers on the flights were sent to quarantine at coronavirus hotels, in accordance with the Health Ministry’s guidelines.The flights were also supported by the Jewish Federation of North America (JFNA).“These immigrants from Ethiopia and Ukraine are arriving in Israel after years of being away from their families and they will finally get to unite with them, despite the closure of the airport,” said Tamano-Shata.“I’m glad that even in these crazy times we get to bring Jews to their new home in Israel. I thank the aliyah organizations: The Jewish Agency and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.”“We will continue to operate until the last of the Jews in Ethiopia will land in Israel,” said Jewish Agency for Israel Chairman Isaac Herzog.Ben-Gurion Airport was closed to regular commercial passenger flights on January 25 because of concern at the entry of COVID-19 variants into the country and it has remained closed ever since.
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